Rising Ospreys star James King sparks international tug-of-war

Future star James King has sparked a potential tug of war over his services.

Future star James King has sparked a potential tug of war over his services. The Ospreys up-and-comer has earned rave reviews for his eye-catching performances while filling in at lock in back-to-back Heineken Cup encounters Toulouse.

The articulate King has been touted as a future Wales international and is a contender for Rob Howley’s Six Nations squad – but he has now revealed he could also play for Australia or England.

King, whose preferred position is blindside flanker with Ospreys bosses seeing him developing as a major rival to Dan Lydiate, has been capped by Wales at under-20 level.

But King did not take part in the “Steve Shingler” match – a clash with France that was deemed an official Wales second team fixture by the International Rugby Board – so is still eligible to play for three countries.

King was born in Australia at Wodonga, Victoria, 190 miles north east of Melbourne, to English parents, even if the RaboDirect Pro 12 official website incorrectly states his birthplace as Mold in North Wales.

A nomadic life has seen him live in Wolverhampton and North Wales – his mother recently emigrated to New Zealand – before setting up home at Bridgend on joining the Ospreys.

“I have lived most of my life in Wales and I class myself as British,” said King.

But which country would he choose if he could pick?

“I don’t know,” he answered. “I would think about it, but I don’t think I would say no to the chance of playing international rugby.”

Reading between the lines, it could be a case of who comes in first should King continue his upward path.

He was spotted by then Wales Under-18 coach Simon King when he played for the North Midlands against North Wales and invited into the Welsh set-up.

“I was just about to do the England trials, but I made Wales’ 35-man squad,” he said.

“Joel Galley, who is with the Scarlets, and I used to come down twice a week for training.

“Marc Roberts (North Wales Academy manager) used to drive us. We’d leave at noon and get back at 11pm.”

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The Ospreys snapped up King and he made headlines last season after having an ear almost completely torn off during a Blues game.

The photograph of the gaping hole left in his head before the ear was re-attached by plastic surgeons (which is still stored in King’s mobile phone) is too graphic to publish in family newspapers.

“I just felt something as I was making a tackle...and my ear got caught in Alex Cuthbert’s shorts!” he explained.

“I couldn’t believe it had happened. I noticed a bit of blood dribbling and assumed I had cut my ear a bit.

“The physio came over and told me I had to go off. In the physio’s room they told me I had to go for surgery, which was a bit of a shock.

“But I didn’t really see it until I got into the hospital.

“I then got someone to take a picture for me. The surgeons at Morriston Hospital did a heck of a job.

“It took them about two hours to sew my ear back on and I was playing within six weeks.

“They just re-attached everything and sewed it back up.

“Luckily, it was still attached to the bottom of the ear. The blood vessels were still there, so it was superficial damage.

“It was the one game I did not wear a scrum cap. I’d always worn one since I was young.

“It’s all fine now. I’m wearing a scrum cap, in matches and training. I’ve got it taped and with a scrum cap on there’s no chance of it coming off again.”

Ospreys assistant coach Gruff Rees believes King has all the attributes to be an international. “James has got huge potential, he’s an athlete who possesses the attributes to play international rugby,” he said.

“James has been sensational. He has made a mark with his contribution around the park and his lineout calling, which is exemplary.”

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